Foodborne illnesses are projected to rise due to the effects of climate change, reports the European Environment Agency (EEA). In particular, Vibrio poses a threat to the safety of seafood sourced from the Baltic Sea.
According to the report, the prevalence or outbreaks of many water- and foodborne diseases is affected by climatic conditions, or is exacerbated by extreme weather events such as heavy rain and flooding. Vibrio flourishes in warm water of moderate salinity, and the pathogen has one of the fastest replication times of any studied bacteria, making it extremely responsive to environmental change.